Closure for mail-receiving apertures.



L EHRLICH CLOSURE FOR MAIL RECEIVING APERTURES.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.2, 1909.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

kfivantor L60 Ehrlich bY fifl Witnesses a. m A;

UNITED S AT s ran rriro CLOSURE FOR MAIL-RECEIVING APERTURES.

Original application filed August 10, 1907, Serial To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that l, LEO Ermtiori, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Closures for i Mail-Receiving Apertures, of which the fol- I lowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art I to which it appertains to make and use the I .zme, reference being had to the accompanymg drawings, forming part of this specificatron. 1

Figure 1 is a detail View of a mail chute showing my improved mail aperture closure in position thereon; Fig. 2 is a side elevay tional view of the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in mail aperture closures for mail chutes, the object being to provide means for preventing bulky packages of mail matter from being introduced into the mail-receiving aperture. I

My present application is a division of an i application filed by me Serial No. 388,007. y

In the drawing, 1 indicates a section of a I mail chute, which, so far as my present invention is concerned, may be of any suitable construction or design.

9 is a plate constituting part of the front wall of the mail chute, which plate is secured in position on the side walls 4, said plate having a forward housing-extension 10 in the upper wall of which is an opening 11 constituting the mail-receiving aperture. 611 each side of this mail-receiving aperture i are two bails 12 and 12 pivotally mounted on the housing 10 at 13 and 13 respectively. Connected to these bails below and above their pivotal points of connection to the 1 housing respectively are lever arms 14 whose cross piece 15 forms practically a back guiding wall for the mail-receiving aperture. A spring 16 tends to normally hold the arms LL and the cross piece 15 in a forward position.

In the event that mail matter of ordinary size is introduced into the opening 11 it is obvious that the cross piece 15 need not be moved. In the event, however, that bulky packages are sought to be introduced into the mail-receiving aperture the cross piece 15 I will be moved rearwardly toward the chute will cause the bails 12 each other and close the and such movement and 12 to approach Specification of Letters Patent.

MAIL CI-IUTE EQUIPMENT PORATION.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

No. 388,007. Divided and this application filed February 2, 1909. Serial No. 475,683.

mail-receiving aperture 11, or so reduce it that it is lmposslble to intr package therein.

From the above it part 15 constitutes a barrier receiving aperture, w

the introduction of usual size, into the aperture.

to introduce bulky p ture will necessitate barrier and the closur will thus be seen that tion of dropping a pi chute, it is impossible I am aware that will be seen that the across the mailhich barrier prevents mail larger than the acka the in the liny attempt ges into the apermovement of the e of the aperture. It

ordinary operain certain mail chute constructions heretofore patented, various devices have been utilized f preventing the introduction ages into the chute, aware, these devices h interior of the chute in which the mail August 10th, 1907, formed. Therefore, such vent the but in or the purpose of of bulky packso far as I am ave been located on the or wit hin the housing receiving aperture is devices do not prelntroduction of through the mail receivin bulky packages g aperture, but engage said packages after they have been partially inserted throug when an attempt is made to age partially inserted vice in the chute, and mutilate the 11 the aperture, and

remove a packand caught by the dethere is a tendency to tear cover of the package. It

will be noted that my improved aperture closure means is located wholly on the exterior of the chute, and therefor the aperture wlll be closed or reduced 1n size when an attempt is made to mail a bulky package in the chute and before any portion of said bulky package is inserted through the aper ture.

I am aware that m1 the several parts of and substituted for described without nor changes in the construction, arrangement and combination of my device can be made those herein shown and 1n the least departing from the nature and principle of my inventlon.

Having thus described my claim is l. A mail chute havin aperture and means chute for preventing bulky packages into said 2. A mail chute h on the avin invention, what g a mail-receiving exterior of the aperture, a barrier adjacent to said aperture, and means on the exterior of the chute, and operated by said barrier to close the aperture.

3. A mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a movable part adjacent to said aperture, and means on the exterior of the chute, and connected to said movable part for closing the said aperture when the movable part is operated.

4:. A mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a barrier across said aperture, and means ope ated by said barrier to prevent the introduction of bulky packages into said aperture when barrier is moved.-

5. A mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture and means on the exterior of the chute for closing said aperture upon the attempt to introduce bulky'packages thereinto.

(5. The combination or a mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture a movable element adjacent said aperture and means for closing said aperture upon attempting the introduction of bulky packages thereinto, said means including a closure connected to said movable element; substantially as described.

7 The combination of a ing a mail-receiving aperture, ment adjacent said aperture, and means operated by said movable element to close saic aperture upon attempting the introduction of bulky packages thereinto; substantially as described.

8. The combination of a mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a movable element adjacent said aperture, and a swinging bail connected to said movable element and movable to close said aperture when said Wall is moved in one direction; substantially as described.

9. The combination of a mail chute hav ing a mail-receiving aperture, a movable element adjacent said aperture, and two bails connected to said movable element, and capable of motion toward each other to close said aperture when said element is moved in one direction; substantially as described.

10. The combination of a mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a movable element adjacent said aperture, a pair of closures movable toward and from each other, and a spring for holding said movable element and closures in normal position; substantially as described.

mail chute hava movable ele- 1 l l l l l erture, and means operated by said barrier l L 1 l l l l l l 1 11. The combination of a mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a movable element adjacent said aperture, a spring for holding said movable element in normal position, and means connected to said movable element for reducing the area of said aperture upon attempting the introduction of bulky packages thereinto; substantially as described.

12. A mail chute having a mail receiving aperture, and a spring-held means on the exterior of the chute for preventing the introduction of bulky packages into said aperture.

13. The combination of a mail chute having an extending housing in which is formed a mail-receiving aperture, and means on the exterior of said housing for preventing the introduction of bulky packages into said aperture.

1a. A mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, and means located in a plane above the aperture for closing the same upon attempting the introduction of bulky packages into said aperture.

15. A mail chute having a mail-receiving aperture, a barrier above said aperture, and means between said barrier and the aperture and operated by said barrier to close the aperture.

16. A mail chute having a mail receiving aperture, a spring-held barrier above the apto close the aperture.

17. In a mail chute having a mail receiving aperture, an aperture closure, and means located on the exterior of the mail chute for actuating said aperture closure.

18. In a mail chute provided with a mail receiving aperture, a pair of aperture closures, and means located on the exterior of the mail chute for actuating said aperture closures.

19. In a mail chute provided with a mail receiving aperture, a pair of aperture closures, and an element on the exterior of the mail. chute for simultaneously moving said. aperture closures toward one another.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of January, 1909.

LEO EHRLIGH.

Witnesses F. R. CORNWALL, Lnnonn CLARK. 

